Bondi’s big developers toppled on Facebook

Facebook has recently found itself plastered over the front pages of newspapers around the globe, and for all the wrong reasons.

Members’ privacy concerns, vacuuming of data from its controversial street view filming and an international quit Facebook day have all marred the company’s image.

But locally at the council level Facebook has played a key role in how democracy works.

The defeat of the development at 105 Ramsgate Avenue echoed another development’s collapse in February, the scrapping of the much-maligned Hugh Bamford depot.

The common thread was that both developments were savaged by the Facebook group, Hugh Bamford Reserve: HB protection Group.

Although the group’s role in the scrapping of the Hugh Bamford depot plan was much more pronounced, members still used the site’s wall to post several articles and to call for local support in the defeat of the Ramsgate development.

The HB group were originally formed to fight the proposed depot to be constructed underneath Hugh Bamford, organising what Waverley mayor Sally Betts called a “professional and well-coordinated campaign”.

The campaign was just ramping up, scheduling a barbecue meet and greet with players from the Sydney Roosters and enlisting media professionals to handle their media releases, when Mayor Betts pulled the pin on the development.

Since the depot’s defeat, several hundred members have joined the group’s ranks, which have swelled to almost 2800 members. The group has also splintered into the Ben Buckler Protection Group, a group formed to fight the proposed 105 Ramsgate Avenue development as well as other developments in the area.

The site has galvanised locals and given them a voice in ways that circumvent traditional means of communication. Members can log in and post comments at any time, useful for the many young professionals and time-poor people living in Bondi, many of whom ordinarily cannot attend council meetings or find time to talk with their local councillors.

These types of innovations are what make social networking sites an important tool that will be invaluable in enabling citizens to be heard by their representatives in years to come.
– By Liam Kinkead